ROCKFORD, Ill. – Robby Michael (So.-Sheboygan, Wis.) accounted for five touchdowns and Caleb Besaw (So.-Conroe, Texas) and Kolby Cohen (Jr.-Missouri City, Texas) both had big days receiving as Lakeland University handled Rockford University 41-20 Saturday at Sam Greeley Field.
The Muskies built a 21-7 lead at halftime and were in control the rest of the way in winning for the first time in Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference play this year. Lakeland improved to 2-2 overall and 1-1 in conference while the Regents fell to 1-3 overall and 0-2 in league play.
The Muskies posted a big offensive advantage over their opponent for the third straight week, outgaining Rockford 469-275. Lakeland also slowed down the passing of prolific Regents quarterback, holding him to 225 yards in the air, well below his average of nearly 400 yards per game through his team's first three games, and even received two field goals and a perfect placekicking day from Jesus Garcia (Fr.-El Paso, Texas) in the win.
Michael again piled up big numbers passing and rushing, including completing 19 of 29 passes for 206 yards and three touchdowns. He also rushed 13 times for 143 yards and two touchdowns, scoring on bursts of 42 yards late in the third quarter to put the Muskies ahead 31-14 and icing the game with a 23-yard run with 1 minute, 22 seconds left for the team's final score.
Besaw caught 10 of Michael's passes for 115 yards, setting career highs in both categories and notching his second 100-yard receiving game in three weeks. He also caught a 16-yard touchdown from Michael just 85 seconds into the game, capping a quick five-play, 75-yard drive that put Lakeland on the board with an early 7-0 lead.
The Regents answered with their only offensive touchdown of the game late in the first, with Ray finding Da'Quan McIntosh for an 18-yard score to finish an 88-yard drive to tie the score at 7-7, but the Muskies scored twice in the second quarter, both connections between Michael and Cohen.
Just a week after a scary moment that saw him leave the field in an ambulance, Cohen returned and caught two touchdown passes from Michael. The first was a 17-yarder just 27 seconds into the second quarter to put Lakeland ahead, coming shortly after a Justin McMahon (Jr.-Kyle, Texas) interception set up the Muskies in good field position. The second came on a fourth down pass lofted by Michael down the left sideline, with Cohen making the grab with a defender on his back and shook him for a 39-yard touchdown.
Rockford sliced the deficit in half early in the third quarter when Maddux Rigsby intercepted Michael and returned it 27 yards for a touchdown, one of three Regents interceptions in the game. The Muskies began to stretch the lead back out when Garcia hit a 38-yard field goal midway through the third for his first collegiate field goal to make it 24-14.
Michael scored his first rushing touchdown late in the quarter, and Garcia added his second field goal from 28 yards out in the fourth quarter, answering a Rockford field goal earlier in the period.
Lakeland did a good share of its offensive work on the ground, rushing 46 times for 263 yards. Jatron Bevly (So.-Springfield, Ill.) also rushed 19 times for 79 yards and Devon Harris (So.-Milwaukee, Wis.) added 33 yards on the ground.
The Muskies converted 5 of 15 third downs but 5 of 7 tries on fourth down. Garcia also made all seven of his kicks in the game, both field goals plus all five of his point-after-touchdown attempts.
Shamond Oliver (So.-Phenix City, Ala.) and Charles Kobe (Sr.-Glendale, Wis.) paced the defense with eight tackles each and Jake Leclaire (Sr.-Stuart, Fla.) and Karlis Ozols (Sr.-Fond du Lac, Wis.) both added seven tackles. The defense shut down Rockford's rushing attack, allowing the Regents just 50 yards on 26 rush attempts.
Lakeland now gets ready for its Homecoming game this coming week when it hosts St. Norbert College for a 1 p.m. kickoff at Taylor Field.
Lakeland wins all three phases in defeating Rockford for first NACC win
/seasons/2023/boxscores/20230923_wonj.xml
2023
Lakeland
41
Rockford
20
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | T |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lakeland (2-2) | 7 | 14 | 10 | 10 | 41 |
| Rockford (1-3) | 7 | 0 | 7 | 6 | 20 |
Sep 23, 2023